Supervised Study in Natural Science

Abstract

This article, the third of a series on supervised study, assumes that supervised study in science has as its purpose the effective training of the individual student in correct study-attitudes and study-habits by which he may come to a thorough understanding of certain science phenomena and science concepts. The principal activities of the student through which he develops proper habits of study in the realm of science are (i) listening to the spoken word, (2) reading, (3) interpreting diagrams and pictures, (4) interpreting observed phenomena in the laboratory or outside of the classroom, (5) organizing knowledge, and (6) oral and written expression. All of these activities are forms of individual study and require careful, directed supervision. The success of the training through these activities depends on the organization of the subject-matter and the teaching technique employed. The organization of the science courses in the University High School of the University of Chicago is such that each course is a series of teaching units or major problems for investigation. The first two units of each science course offered are here given as illustrations: